You are here

Trustees

Ray Klinginsmith

Chair 2015-16

Rotary Club of Kirksville

Missouri, USA

Ray Klinginsmith, a retired attorney, served as general counsel, professor of business administration, and dean of administration for Truman State University. He was director of the Macon Atlanta State Bank in Macon, Missouri, from 1971 to 2008 and is a director emeritus of the bank and a director of the bank holding company.

Kalyan Banerjee

Chair-elect 2015-16

Rotary Club of Vapi

Gujarat, India

Kalyan Banerjee is chair of United Phosphorus, Bangladesh, and a director of both United Phosphorus Ltd. and Uniphos Agro Industries Ltd. He has been a member of the American Chemical Society and the Indian Institute of Chemical Engineers. He also has been chair of the Gujarat Chapter of Confederation of Indian Industries.

Banerjee joined Rotary in 1972 and has served Rotary as RI president, director, Foundation trustee, RI Board Executive Committee member, International Assembly group discussion leader, task force chair, and district governor. He also chaired The Rotary Foundation in India.

Banerjee has received The Rotary Foundation’s Citation for Meritorious Service and its Distinguished Service Award. He and his wife, Binota, are Major Donors and members of the Bequest Society of The Rotary Foundation.

Paul A. Netzel

Vice Chair 2015-16

Rotary Club of Los Angeles

California, USA

Paul A. Netzel is founder and chair of Netzel Grigsby Associates Inc., a leading management consulting firm specializing in work with nonprofit organizations and institutions throughout the western United States. He served as mayor of Culver City and president of Culver City's Board of Education. He has held leadership positions in numerous local and national professional societies and not-for-profit boards, including the Association of Fundraising Professionals, the Boy Scouts, Goodwill Industries, United Way, YMCA, and the Auto Club of Southern California Advisory Board.

A Rotarian since 1968, Netzel has served Rotary as director, task force zone coordinator, committee chair, zone institute chair and convener, International Assembly moderator and chair, training leader, and district governor.

Netzel has received The Rotary Foundation's Citation for Meritorious Service. Both Paul and his wife, Diane, are charter members of the Arch Klumph Society, Major Donors, and members of the Paul Harris Society and Bequest Society of The Rotary Foundation.

Noel A. Bajat

Trustee 2013-17

Rotary Club of Abbeville

Louisiana, USA

Noel A. Bajat is president and chief executive officer of Abbeville Building and Loan. He has served in numerous executive capacities with civic organizations.

A Rotarian since 1976, Bajat has served Rotary as vice president and director, regional Rotary Foundation coordinator, RI president’s representative, Permanent Fund national adviser, RI training leader, task force zone coordinator and member, and district governor. He represented his district at the 2004 Council on Legislation.

Bajat is a recipient of the Service Above Self Award and The Rotary Foundation’s Citation for Meritorious Service and Distinguished Service Award. He and his wife, Helen, are Major Donors, Benefactors, and charter members of the Bequest Society of The Rotary Foundation.

Örsçelik Balkan

Trustee 2015-19

Rotary Club of Istanbul-Karaköoy

Turkey

Örsçelik Balkan is the executive senior board director of the EAE Elektrik Company, a manufacturer of electrical products in Turkey and Russia. He is a developer in the field of renewable energy implementations in Turkey. He also teaches strategic planning, effective communication, and project planning for an MBA program at Kültür University in Istanbul.

A Rotarian since 1973, Balkan has served Rotary as director; chair of the RI Board Executive Committee; committee member, liaison, adviser, vice chair, and chair; task force zone coordinator; RI president’s representative; RI training leader; and district governor. He led disaster relief services in Turkey following an earthquake in 1999, helped to bring Rotary services to Bosnia-Herzegovina, and initiated a heart surgery project for Iraqi children. In 2007, he convened Rotary Presidential Peace Forums in Sofia, Bulgaria; Istanbul, Turkey; and Nairobi, Kenya.

Balkan has been recognized with the Service Above Self Award and The Rotary Foundation's Citation for Meritorious Service. He is a Rotary Foundation Major Donor and Benefactor.

Ron D. Burton

Trustee 2015-19

Rotary Club of Norman

Oklahoma, USA

Ron Burton retired as president of the University of Oklahoma Foundation Inc. in 2007. He is a member of the Cleveland County, Oklahoma, and American Bar Associations and is admitted to practice in Oklahoma and before the U.S. Supreme Court. He is a founder and past president of the Norman Public School Foundation and founder and past board member of the Norman Community Foundation.

Burton has been a Rotarian since 1979 and has served Rotary as RI president; RI director; Foundation trustee and vice chair; RI Board Executive Committee member; RI president’s aide; committee vice chair and chair; task force member; International Assembly group discussion leader, assistant moderator, and moderator; and district governor.

A recipient of RI’s Service Above Self Award, Burton also has received The Rotary Foundation’s Citation for Meritorious Service, Distinguished Service Award, and International Service Award for a Polio-Free World. He and his wife, Jetta, are Paul Harris Fellows, Benefactors, and members of the Arch Klumph Society and Bequest Society of The Rotary Foundation.

Mário César Martins de Camargo

Trustee 2015-19

Rotary Club of Santo André

São Paulo, Brazil

Mário César Martins de Camargo was president of Grafica Bandeirantes and is now a consultant to the print industry in Brazil. He served as director and president of ABIGRAF Brazil for eight years, president of Sindigraf São Paulo for six years, vice president of Fiesp for 11 years, and vice president of Conlatingraf. He also has been an adviser for the Patrol Boys Group and serves on the board of Casa da Esperança (House of Hope), a project for disabled children sponsored by his Rotary club since 1953.

A Rotarian since 1980, de Camargo has served Rotary as RI president’s representative, RI training leader, leaders’ seminar trainer, committee member and chair, RI Convention co-chair, task force member, and district governor.

De Camargo and his wife, Denise, are Major Donors and Paul Harris Fellows. He also is a Benefactor of The Rotary Foundation.

Sushil Gupta

Trustee 2014-18

Rotary Club of Delhi Midwest

Delhi, India

Sushil Gupta is chair and managing director of Asian Hotels (West) Ltd., chair of Edenpark Hotels (Qutab-Clarion), and owner of Hyatt Regency Mumbai and JW Marriott New Delhi Aerocity. He also chairs the Gangotri Conservation Project and is a trustee of the Himalayan Environment Trust and member of the Indian Mountaineering Foundation. He has been conferred the prestigious national award of Padma Shri by the president of India for Distinguished Service to the Tourism Industry and Social Work.

A Rotarian since 1977, Gupta has served Rotary as director; resource group adviser; committee member, vice chair, and chair; RI training leader; and district governor.

Gupta and his wife, Vinita, are Major Donors, Paul Harris Fellows, and Benefactors of The Rotary Foundation.

Michael K. McGovern

Trustee 2012-16

Rotary Club of South Portland-Cape Elizabeth

Maine, USA

Michael K. McGovern has been the town manager of Cape Elizabeth since 1985. He currently serves as treasurer of the Museum at Portland Head Light and the Thomas Jordan Trust. He is a past board chair of EcoMaine.

McGovern has been a Rotarian since 1986 and has served Rotary as vice president, director, RI Board Executive Committee member, Permanent Fund national adviser, RI membership zone coordinator, RI training leader, and district governor. A past Council on Legislation representative, he is also a past chair of Rotarians for Fighting AIDS: A Rotarian Action Group.

He is a Major Donor and member of the Rotary Foundation's Bequest Society and a recipient of its Citation for Meritorious Service.

Samuel F. Owori

Trustee 2012-16

Rotary Club of Kampala

Uganda

Samuel F. Owori has been CEO of the Institute of Corporate Governance since 2008. Previously, he was executive director of the African Development Bank and managing director of Uganda Commercial Bank. He has served as secretary of the Central Bank of Uganda and chair of the microfinance enterprise FAULU Uganda Limited.

He holds master’s degrees in law and business management from universities in England, Switzerland, and the United States, including the Harvard Business School.

Owori and his wife, Norah, are Major Donors and Paul Harris Fellows. He also is a Benefactor of The Rotary Foundation.

Julio Sorjús

Trustee 2012-16

Rotary Club of Barcelona Condal

Spain

Julio Sorjús, a lawyer, is partner and chair in a law firm bearing his name. A member of the Barcelona Bar Association, he is a former associate professor on the law faculty of the University of Barcelona. He has served on committees for Alzheimer’s disease and multiple sclerosis associations.

A Rotarian since 1983, he has served Rotary as director, RI president’s aide, RI president’s representative, task force zone coordinator, International Assembly group discussion leader, and district governor.

Sorjús is a recipient of RI’s Service Above Self Award and The Rotary Foundation’s Citation for Meritorious Service and Distinguished Service Award. He is a Major Donor, and he and his wife, Carmen, are members of the Arch Klumph Society and Bequest Society of The Rotary Foundation.

Bryn Styles

Trustee 2015-17

Rotary Club of Barrie-Huronia

Ontario, Canada

Bryn Styles was owner and president of two retail pharmacies, which he operated in partnership with his spouse starting in 1980. He is a member of the Ontario Pharmacist Association and has served as a member of the National Board of the YMCA.

A Rotarian since 1986, Styles has served Rotary as Council on Legislation representative, RI president’s representative, regional Rotary Foundation coordinator, and district governor.

Styles received RI’s Service Above Self Award and The Rotary Foundation’s Citation for Meritorious Service. He and his wife, Randy, are members of the Bequest Society and Arch Klumph Society.

Sakuji Tanaka

Trustee 2014-18

Rotary Club of Yashio

Saitama, Japan

Sakuji Tanaka is the former chair of the Daika Company and former president of the National Household Papers Distribution Association of Japan. He also has been vice president of the Yashio City Chamber of Commerce.

A member of his Rotary club since its charter in 1975, Tanaka has served Rotary as RI president, director, Rotary Foundation trustee, committee member and chair (including chair of the 2009 Birmingham Convention Committee), regional Rotary Foundation coordinator, RI training leader, and district governor.

Tanaka is a recipient of RI's Service Above Self Award and The Rotary Foundation's Citation for Meritorious Service and Distinguished Service Award. He and his wife, Kyoko, are Paul Harris Fellows, Benefactors, Major Donors, and members of the Arch Klumph Society. In addition, he has established an endowed Rotary Peace Fellowship.

Thomas M. Thorfinnson

Trustee 2015-19

Rotary Club of Eden Prairie Noon

Minnesota, USA

Tom is president of Thorfinnson Law Offices and is engaged in the private practice of corporate law. He is a former lecturer in business law for the University of Minnesota and is in his 14th year as a member of the First Minnetonka City Bank board of directors. He also is past director and board chair for the Hopkins Crime Prevention Foundation, Open Circle Adult Day Care, Eden Prairie ABC Foundation, and Eden Prairie Girls Athletic Association.

A Rotarian since 1980, Tom has served Rotary as vice president, director, member of the RI/USAID Water Alliance Steering Committee and the Strategic Planning Committee, regional Rotary Foundation coordinator, Council on Legislation representative, Permanent Fund national adviser, zone coordinator, and district governor.

Thorfinnson is a Benefactor of The Rotary Foundation, and he and his wife, Jamie, are Major Donors, Paul Harris Fellows, and Bequest Society members.

Young Suk "Y.S." Yoon

Trustee 2014-18

Rotary Club of Seoul Hoehyon

Korea

Y.S. Yoon has held the positions of chair and CEO at Daewoo Corporation, Daewoo Heavy Industries & Machinery Ltd., Korea Heavy Industries & Machinery, and Doosan Heavy Industries & Machinery, respectively. He currently serves as founder and chair of Heam Management Consulting. He has received various awards recognizing his outstanding leadership and contributions to the global trade industry, including the Order of the Knight Officer from the Italian government, the Order of Industrial Service Merit Gold Tower, the Award for International Trade, and the Grand Award for Ethical International Trade.

A Rotarian since 1990, Yoon has served Rotary as committee member, RI training leader, district Rotary Foundation committee chair, and district governor. He also served as a member of the Rotary Peace Centers Major Gifts Initiative.

Yoon and his wife, Seung Ja, are Major Donors, Benefactors of The Rotary Foundation, and Paul Harris Society members.

John Hewko

General Secretary

Rotary Club of Kyiv

Ukraine

John Hewko is the general secretary of Rotary International and The Rotary Foundation. From 2004 to 2009, Hewko was vice president for operations and compact development for the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), a U.S. government agency established in 2004 to deliver foreign assistance to the world’s poorest countries.